Category Archives: Cascade 220 Superwash

Pome

Oy vey, how pretty is this cabled hat?! I think it would look amazing in a simple yarn like Cascade 220 Superwash (the heathered colours would be especially fetching), but any worsted weight solid, semi-solid, heathered or tweed yarn would look amazing! Be sure to wash your hat and lay it flat to dry to settle the cables.

Rye

Cozy sockies make great gifts, especially when they are knitted with worsted weight yarn. This FREE pattern from Tincan Knits has great instructions and ranges in size from Baby to Adult Large. The other great thing is that you have a lot of yarn options when you work with a worsted, ranging from pretty hand paints like Manos Alegria Grande or Malabrigo Rios, to budget friendly options like Cascade 220 Superwash and Berroco Vintage, or Berroco Comfort Print. The most important thing about your yarn choice is make sure it’s machine washable!

Maeve

Is it going to be warm? Is it going to be cold? I can’t tell anymore! I’ve been wearing shawls around the store lately, but I feel like I’d like something with a *touch* more structure, a little more style. After an exhaustive search, I’ve settled on Maeve, a shrug with a modern cable detail and little sleevettes.

The pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn, but after looking at the tension, needle size and finished projects I’d say it’s more like a DK weight like Mineville Merino DK or Cascade 220 Superwash Sport. If you want to go up to a light worsted weight yarn like Cascade 220, Cascade 220 Superwash, or Malabrigo Rios, go up a needle size to a 4mm/US6 or 4.5mm/US7 needle (test your tension and see how you like the fabric). I think I just want something simple and heathered, I’ll probably just use

I like heathers and tweeds, and since my Maeve will be worn a lot I need it to wear well. I think I’ll use a basic staple yarn like Cascade 220 Heathers – sometimes it’s best to keep things simple and not overthink it. I’ll probably make a smaller size, it;s a very unstructured garment and the dimensions of this type of style are generous.

Mini Knit Hack

Sometimes I like the feel of a yarn once the project has been blocked, but not so much in the skein when it’s straight off the shelf. If you don’t love the feel of your yarn in the skein, you can soften it up by washing it before you start knitting.

If your yarn is not already in a skein wind it up around the backs of a couple of chairs, or on a swift (if you have one).

With scrap yarn, secure the skeins in at least 4 sections (to keep the yarn from getting tangled while being washed).

Wash skeined yarn inEucalan no-rinse delicate wash (it is very easy, see instructions on the bottle/youtube/their website). Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the water to stabilize the colour.

People often ask me what I am working on …. most of the time the answer is something for the store, and the rest of the time I’m usually fulfilling my self-imposed materteral duties and making something for my niece & nephew. I suppose it would be cheaper & easier to go out & buy them hats & such, but once they ask I have a hard time saying no to such a sincere request. Usually, it’s doll clothes, which I don’t really have an issue making because they get used CONSTANTLY, but this year new snow suits require new hats and neck warmers. The neck warmers are still forthcoming ….

Knit Hack: Pattern Choices

Reliability

Tin Can Knits patterns are reliable, and I didn’t want to have to tinker with a pattern too much. If there’s too much ripping back and restarting I find I don’t finish the project, especially when it’s a project I don’t find particularly inspiring.

Size Range

Tin Can Knits patterns generally provide you with a broad range of sizes, from baby to adult large. This really helps me with sizing for two different sized kids, especially if my tension is tighter and I need to go up a size to make the finished garment fit properly (which it was, and I did). Plus, if their parents want matching hats I can make those up without the exertion of having to modify a children’s pattern.

Re-Useability

The pattern is a classic look, and I can and may use it again. When you make something for a kid you never know if they are going to get really attached to it and want you to make it again 1. when they grow out of it, 2. when they lose it, 3. want it in another color, or all of the preceding. I try to make my self-imposed materteral duties as easy as possible to fulfill. The style also isn’t gendered, I can use it for both men and women, boys and girls.

Skill Level

Tin Can Knits patterns don’t tend to be too challenging to knit. They manage to keep things interesting without making you jump through hoops. The cable repeat in this pattern was simple and predictable, I didn’t have to refer to the instructions for every row, there wasn’t a complicated chart to follow.

Bon Bon Toque

I used Cascade 220 Superwash for this round of hats; I wanted a yarn that was machine washable, not too expensive, had a bit of a depth of colour (heathered colours work well for this), came a wide variety of colours to match their jackets, and was soft and comfortable. My tension with the yarn was a bit tighter than called for in the pattern and I didn’t want the textile to be loose, so I went down a needle size and up a size in the pattern (you can see my pattern notes on Ravelry). I also elongated the ribbing to make it long enough to fold over – I figured this might make the hat warmer, and give the garment a bit more longevity in the fit department as the kids grow.

Like this:

Yellow Brick Cold

A client walked in today wearing this cowl and it looked SO GOOD, I had to share! Hers was very similar to the original in the picture, it was a similar solid coloured yellow, but I think it was knitted on smaller needles. She also had a couple of big round buttons are the join – it was a nice little decorative accent. The pattern was written with simple, affordable Berroco Vintage, but you can make it with any kind of worsted weight yarn (see options below). One caveat: you might want to use different size needles for the different stitches, the garter stitch might require a smaller needle than the basket weave stitch – play around and see what you like.

Simple House Slippers

Slippers make an awesome winter gift – they’re infinitely useful, fast to make, and son’t use a ton of yarn. There are lots of free slipper patterns floating around the internet, and I’ll post a few different styles going forward, but I like the simple, rustic style of these Simple House Slippers. You can make them with a single strand of a worsted weight wool like Cascade 220 Superwash or Malabrigo Rios, or create some colour effects with two strands of a sock/fingering weight yarn held together (try Manos Alegria). Generally, I prefer to use a soft wool yarn for anything that goes directly on feet – wool absorbs moisture without making your feet feel cold or creating excess smell (ie. wool socks & slippers don’t get super smelly like synthetic or plant fibres). It’s also always nice to put something on the bottom of slippers like Slipper Bottoms or Anti-Slip to limit the amount of slip.

I love this blanket, the aesthetic is timeless, historic, and the knitting easy enough for beginners. The original pattern is designed as a crib blanket (34″ wide x 39″ long), but it makes a really lovely lap blanket, so we’ll give you a few yarn options and instructions to make it larger.